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(No Model.)

H. A. SOHULZ.

COMBINED TRUSS AND SUPPORTER.

PatentedDec. 15, 1885.

INVENTOR: fif ef/h BY MUM w ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. SCHULZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

COMBINED TRUSS AND SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,443, dated December 15, 1885.

Application filed September 7, 1885. Serial No. l76,455. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, HENRY A. SoHULz, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Rupture-Pads and Abdominal Supporters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,formingapart ofthis specificatiomin which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 represents a combined rupture-pad and abdominal supporter. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the rupture-pad detached and enlarged. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

The object of this invention is to provide combined rupture-pads and abdominal supporters constructed in such a manner as to relieve the rupture-pad from the abdominal weight, and thus allow it to do its work effectually while exerting a light pressure.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of various parts of the combined rupture-pad and abdominal supporter, as will be hereinafter fully described and then claimed.

A represents the abdominal support-er, which may be made of elastic rubber, webbing, hard rubber, or other suitable material, and may be provided with stays or stift'eners B or not, as the material used may require. To the supporter A is secured by rivets or other suitable means a plate, 0, having at one end an outwardly-projecting flange, D, to which is secured a pivot, E, placed parallel with the plate G. Upon the pivot E is placed an eye formed upon the projecting upper end of the back plate, F, to which the pad proper, G, is secured by screws or other suitable means. Around the pivot E is coiled a spiral spring, H, one end of which rests upon the plate 0, and its other end rests upon the back plate, F, of the pad G, and is kept in place by being passed through a keeper, I, attached to the said back plate, F. The spring H can be made of greater or less strength, as the pressure necessary to be exerted by the pad G may require. Any suitable spring can be used that will throw the pad G forward in such a manner as to follow all the movements of the abdomen.

Amongthe many advantages of my invention, the following may be mentioned: The abdominal supporter presses the entire abdomen upward, and thus relieves the ruptured part from undue downward pressure, so that the rupturepad has only to hold the small portion of the intestines affected by the rupture, and a very light pressure from the said pad will be sufficient. The connection of the spring with the base-plate and the rupture-pad gives to the said pad an easy inward and upward pressure, and at the same time allows the rupture-pad to yield to all motions of the abdomen when pressed outward under exertion or drawn in- Ward.

The truss, if the abdominal supporter is made of elastic rubber, webbing, or other pliable material, can be worn with comfort day and night,which materially assists in effecting a complete cure. lVith this construction no portion of the body is subjected to any undue pressure that would oblige the wearer to remove the truss on account of pain therefrom, so that the said truss can be worn wit-h comfort for long periods of time.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- As an improved article of manufacture, a rupture-pad and abdominal supporter consisting of the attaching-plate 0, having the flange D at right angles thereto, the pivot E, secured to or formed on the said flange and extending across the attaching-plate parallel with its outer face, the plate F, hung on the pivot E, the pad G on the plate F, and spring H, hearing at its lower end on the plate F below its pivotal point, and at its opposite end bearing on the plate 0, substantially as set forth.

HENRY A. SGHULZ.

Witnesses:

JAMES T. GRAHAM, G. SEnewIcK. 

